Intro to Processes – OM in the News

IHOP’s Flip’d Targets On-the-Go Customers

Flip’d by IHOP is the rebooted fast-casual spinoff from IHOP. Multiple locations are planned to open in 2021. Look for Flip’d in suburban areas in New York, Kansas, and Ohio, and at high-end convenience stores like Kwik Stop and Minit Mart.

On-the-go customers can place their orders at digital kiosks or the counter. Delivery and digital order pickup are available for off-premise customers.

Video Spotlight: IHOP opening new restaurant Flip’d (May 21, 2021, KPRC 2 Click2Houston)

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By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2021-08-31T07:14:05+00:00August 31, 2021|Tags: facility location, location, product design, service design|

Highly Automated Microfactories for E.V. Start-Up

A developer of electric vans and buses bets that smaller is cheaper. UPS seems to agree.

Automobile production and assembly line have been intrinsically linked for more than a century. Volume production justifies the high capital investments. Nevertheless, Arrival, an E.V. start-up, believes that highly automated microfactories are the way to go to produce small volumes of delivery vehicles. The production relies on flexible robots able to perform a variety of tasks. This unproven approach is appealing to UPS, BlackRock, Kia, […]

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2021-05-11T18:36:03+00:00May 11, 2021|Tags: automation, flexible-manufacturing, line balancing, robots|

Black-Owned Distilleries Capture their Share of the Kentucky Bourbon Market

The American distilling world is becoming more diversified.

Distilleries owned and operated by African Americans are reshaping bourbon’s 200-year history in Kentucky. This is an important turning point for a beverage that was initially made by enslaved labor. The new entrepreneurs are making a difference by updating bourbon’s image and providing new economic opportunities. The competition is already intensifying as small, modest startups must fend off powerful, multimillion-dollar enterprises, and as access to capital remains problematic. Nevertheless, there are several indications […]

By CMKaruppan|2021-04-04T20:19:01+00:00April 13, 2021|Tags: location, process selection, strategy|

Mass Customization at Taco Bell

One of Taco Bell’s newest promotions is the My Cravings Box.

Taco Bell has offered a variety of $5 cravings boxes for several years, as part of its emphasis on value. The items in the Cravings Boxes have changed over time. Past offerings have included a Grande Nachos Box, Toasted Cheddar Chalupa Box, and Chalupa Cravings Box (to name a few.)

What makes the My Cravings box so different?

It’s customizable.

Not including beverages, customers can build their meal with 30 different combinations, by […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2021-03-31T19:40:34+00:00March 31, 2021|Tags: efficiency, mass customization, product design, queuing, service design, waiting line|